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Radiotehnika Alfa 1.02 Review: Stylish Design Meets Superior Audio

“In this changing world of momentary trends, one-day companies, and new trends, our hundred-year history allows us to remain faithful to the traditions of quality, introducing modern engineering solutions into our products, creating high-class audio equipment and high-quality audio accessories for people passionate about music,” perhaps you can’t think of a better start for today’s review.

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The slogan for the new stage of the history of the company Radiotehnika hits the target, right on the sore spot. But, on the other hand: what is left in “Radiotehnika” from the old days? How does this idea of ​​the company differ from the next freshly baked novelty of any arbitrary brand? 

Oh, and the developers found themselves in a difficult situation! On the one hand, the timing was right: forgotten trendy brands are being revived, raising the dust of melancholy from the sidelines of history. The faded logos, once famous throughout the vast country, are being polished to a shine. Pride, greatness, postulates.

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But we know that in our age of information flows, nothing can be hidden, and greatness, relying on postulates, can sometimes ask pride to move a little. However, it is not worth using this template everywhere, because someone can really try, get up off their knees, and polish, and here we are with our template.

Alfa 1

Everyone remembers the legendary S-90 speakers in all their variations. Big, loud, often without gloss and monograms, but so desirable for any music lover of the golden era. It was large-scale, goosebumps impressive, and simply respectable – after all, the price tag was not at all affordable, and not everyone could afford to have such luxury at home.

Now everything is completely different. Consumer habits strive to fill all available space on store shelves with neat rows of acoustic models. Price tags cover any budget – come, listen, choose, buy. 

Radiotehnika’s production facilities have already had to work in such realities, since, despite its turbulent history of almost a century, the plant continued to produce various acoustic systems in the very tangible past. Then, a wave of momentary trends nevertheless undermined the company’s skeleton, thereby creating a new pedestal for a solemn revival. 21st century, 2023: Radiotehnika is back in business!

This first step may seem timid to some, but from a rational point of view, it can be considered correct. In any case, a start has been made: the Alfa acoustics line has occupied one of the most budget niches. But despite this, advertising leaflets claim that Alfa is modern technology, the insurance of which is provided by centuries-old traditions. A successful, time-tested scheme, which, with the right approach, attracts thousands and thousands of devoted fans. 

The series includes a traditional set for creating a home theater: Alfa 1.01 bookshelf speakers, Alfa 1.02 floor speakers, Alfa 1.03 center channel, and 1.04 subwoofer. Let’s start with the floor speakers.

Centuries-old traditions with a clear example

Now Radiotehnika looks like this. Well, to be honest, no other form factor is needed at this stage. Alfa 1.02 is a familiar format of floor-standing columns almost a meter high, which looks like… Like floor-standing acoustics. There is no room for designer delights here, but it is also very easy to spoil this price range with hints of the bourgeoisie.

Let it be better like this: simple, straightforward, but most importantly – neutral. The cabinet made of traditional MDF is covered with vinyl in one color option, the name of which is Black Ash. The front panel remains pure black, with classic recesses for grill mounts. Studying corners and joints gives a positive result: the budget segment has learned to make cosmetics ideal, and the assembly also does not cause any complaints.

The rear panel houses a pair of phase inverters and a docking station for receiving speaker cables. The lower one has the traditional four spikes. In principle, the review of the exterior could have ended here, if not for one “but”: three drivers on the front panel, two of which shimmer intricately in the spotlight.

The tweeter is predictable – it’s an inch driver with a silk dome, which is located in a shallow three-stage waveguide. But with the other two speakers, everything is completely unpredictable. The diffuser material is impressive: microparticles of molten glass are applied to a cellulose base (that’s where the shine comes from!), which, as it turns out, gives the diffuser such characteristics on the rigidity/lightness scale that Kevlar itself can envy. This technology is called Polyglass and is successfully used in the entire line of Radiotehnika Alfa acoustics.

The pair of speakers here covers the entire mid-low frequency range, which is common in this price segment, but the implementation is always different. To prevent the two speakers from shaking the cabinet too much, the cabinet is reinforced from the inside with struts.

In general, the Alfa 1.02’s appearance can draw some parallels to the retro theme. Or it can be not. As we can see, modern elegance has given way to technology, allowing engineers to bring to life something completely new for the revived brand.

Why Polyglass speakers?

By and large, the atmosphere was right. The triangle was isosceles, the chair was comfortable, and the Radiotehnika RTM01 amplifier was a worthy companion for the Alfa 1.02.

To begin with, we can take a brief excursion into the manufacturer’s advertising printing and highlight the main terms used to describe the sound: “surprisingly voluminous and detailed”, “they sound really big”, and “suitable for rooms up to 30 square meters”. In principle, a fairly standard arrangement of phrases.

But what else could be written? There is no point in exaggerating here, because we are talking about floor-standing speakers for a little over 40 thousand, and choosing too simple expressions means not loving yourself at all. Therefore, now we offer you the other side of the coin: alternative music-loving printing with audiophile inclusions and analysis by genre. 

Let’s start, perhaps, with one of the reference tracks: “With Their Names” performed by Tatyana Zykina. It is not known for certain where and how this album was recorded, but the impressions from Tatyana’s lyrics, melodies, and the quality of the recording remain the most pleasant.

Radiotehnika Alfa 1.02 in this same track confirms the title of large-scale and voluminous speakers: the scope turned out to be good, with the transfer of the atmosphere and languor of Tatyana’s hints. The composition was built softly and smoothly, and no attacks or distortions to the side were detected.

The only remark, from here on out: the “Alpha” had to be turned strictly towards the listener, for a more precise scene. Clarification to this remark: the area of ​​the “Audiomania” showroom, where the test took place, is much larger than the stated 30 meters, and there was more than enough space behind the listener. In general, there are enough high frequencies, they are organic and unobtrusive, so turning the acoustics towards the listener will not play bad jokes on you.

The OST from the movie “Joker” can be included in this category. There is drama, atmosphere, and scale, but, as they say, “without strain”. This is a completely expected result, in addition to which one can highlight the main impression: Alfa 1.02 copes well with this kind of atmospheric composition, evenly distributing the scene even in the vertical plane, thus forming a pleasant hemisphere around the listener.

If we go from the opposite side of tastes and turn on something from the modern electronic repertoire, then here we will meet the answer to the question asked at the beginning of the chapter. For example, the track “Pink Panther” by Solee: the density of the bass line gives reason to slightly widen the eyes. This is something new!

The emphasis here is shifted towards the attack, but the jumps to bass depths remain within the bounds of decency – without this the track would sound simply unrecognizable, and with “Alpha” it turned out quite interesting. After such an experience, I had to look for another obligatory track – “Help Me Lose My Mind” by London Grammar: the test for dynamics at the beginning of the track was successfully passed.

But questions remain: why was such an outstanding aspect of these speakers not mentioned in the advertising brochures? After all, it is great to get such dynamics in the lower register, without neglecting either the depth of the bass or the integrity of the other ranges. A mystery.

Slayer comes next. Well, what if? Although you definitely shouldn’t joke around with the track “World Painted Blood”. It turned out that the speed of the drums in such genres is not a problem for Alfa 1.02. The bass keeps up, works, and holds the rhythm. But with distortion, not everything is so smooth, since the overall emphasis of the acoustics is shifted more to macro than micro contrast.

But overall, you can hear everything, and if you leave aside the pettiness inherent to audiophiles, then even such music on Radiotehnika is successfully listened to and does not cause a desire to quickly change the track. Igor confirms these conclusions.

Something similar happened with classical music. But here the atmosphere of the speakers played a plus, they took the scale, without limiting the symphony orchestra to a chamber orchestra. Violins remain violins, the emphasis on macro does not constrain the instruments’ self-expression, but only slightly hints: first of all, pay attention to the scale, gentlemen. And then listen as you wish.

Conclusions

Radiotehnika Alfa 1.02 will not conquer you with the waxed gloss of cabinets, gilding and chrome on the edging. It seems that the money went to another, more important component in this budget – sound. Here again, a comparison with the centuries-old traditions from the booklet suggests itself, and, most likely, there is no escape from it.

After all, it turned out to preserve almost the same scale of sound, not to sell obsession under the guise of detail, to abandon attempts to please visuals, and in return to put at the feet (ears, if you like) of the listener a little more sound than the budget allows.

Alfa 1.02 will please you with a collected bass, will save you from squinting your eyes in response to your favorite heavy metal, and will preserve the volume and atmosphere of even a sparkling recording. After such impressions, there is only one thing left: to impatiently wait for the Gamma and Vita lines announced on the manufacturer’s website – the older ones.

FAQs for Radiotehnika Alfa 1.02 Floorstanding Speaker

1. What type of speaker is the Radiotehnika Alfa 1.02?
The Radiotehnika Alfa 1.02 is a floorstanding loudspeaker designed for high-fidelity audio performance, suitable for music listening and home theater setups.

2. What are the key specifications of the Alfa 1.02?
The Alfa 1.02 features:

  • Drivers: 2 x 6.3-inch (160 mm) bass drivers and 1 x 1-inch (25 mm) silk dome tweeter
  • Frequency Response: 30 Hz – 20 kHz
  • Sensitivity: 90 dB
  • Impedance: 8 ohms
  • Power Handling: 50 – 150 watts

3. How does the Alfa 1.02 perform with different music genres?
These speakers provide a balanced sound profile, making them versatile for various music genres, from classical to rock and electronic music.

4. What type of amplifier is recommended for the Alfa 1.02?
A quality amplifier with a power output between 50 and 150 watts per channel is recommended to drive the Alfa 1.02 effectively.

5. Are the Alfa 1.02 suitable for home theater systems?
Yes, the Alfa 1.02 speakers are ideal for home theater applications, providing clear dialogue and an immersive sound experience for movies and TV shows.

6. What is the design of the Radiotehnika Alfa 1.02 Floorstanding Speaker?
The speakers have a modern and sleek design, available in various finishes to suit different interior styles.

7. Is there a break-in period for the Radiotehnika Alfa 1.02 Floorstanding Speaker?
Yes, a break-in period of around 50-100 hours is generally recommended to allow the drivers to reach optimal performance.

8. What are the dimensions and weight of the Radiotehnika Alfa 1.02 Floorstanding Speaker?
The Alfa 1.02 typically measures approximately 1000 mm in height, 300 mm in width, and 350 mm in depth, weighing around 22 kg.

9. What warranty is offered with the Radiotehnika Alfa 1.02 Floorstanding Speaker?
Radiotehnika usually offers a standard manufacturer’s warranty, which may vary by region, so it’s best to check with the retailer for specific details.

10. Where can I purchase the Radiotehnika Alfa 1.02 Floorstanding Speaker?
The Alfa 1.02 can be found at authorized audio retailers, both online and in-store. Check the official Radiotehnika website or reputable audio equipment shops for availability.

Specifications

  • Type: Floor-standing loudspeaker
  • Drivers:
    • 1 x 25 mm (1 inch) silk dome tweeter
    • 2 x 160 mm (6.3 inch) bass drivers
  • Frequency Response: 30 Hz – 20 kHz
  • Impedance: 8 ohms
  • Sensitivity: 90 dB (1W/1m)
  • Power Handling: 50 – 150 watts
  • Crossover Frequency: Typically around 3 kHz
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): Approximately 1000 mm x 300 mm x 350 mm (39.4″ x 11.8″ x 13.8″)
  • Weight: Approximately 22 kg (48.5 lbs)
  • Finish Options: Available in various finishes, including wood veneer and black.

Written by subwoofermania

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